Results 5,061-5,080 of 7,312 for speaker:James Browne

Defects in Apartments - Working Group to Examine Defects in Housing Report: Statements (15 Dec 2022)

James Browne: On behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, I thank all Deputies who have contributed to this debate. We can all agree that many homeowners and residents of apartments and duplexes have found themselves in a difficult and stressful position when defects have arisen in respect of their buildings through no fault of their own. As...

Income Eligibility for Social Housing Supports: Statements (15 Dec 2022)

James Browne: I thank Deputies for their valuable contributions to this important discussion. As stated earlier by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, the income eligibility thresholds for social housing supports were introduced in 2011 with the key objective of reserving housing assistance for households unable to secure accommodation from their own resources....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child and Family Agency (15 Dec 2022)

James Browne: As the Deputy will be fully aware, I will not be discussing a specific case. However, I will answer the question that was posed, which sought to discuss with the Minister for Justice the technologies and methods used as part of the Garda vetting process. On behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy Humphreys, I thank the Deputy for raising this issue in the House today. The Deputy will...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child and Family Agency (15 Dec 2022)

James Browne: Again, as the Deputy is very well aware, it is not possible for me to address the very specific case he has raised. I would also point out that the Deputy asked a very generic question asking the Minister for Justice to address issues around the technologies and methods used. If he wanted a more specific answer, he could have asked a more specific question or highlighted what he was going...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child and Family Agency (15 Dec 2022)

James Browne: The Deputy did not do so before I came in here.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child and Family Agency (15 Dec 2022)

James Browne: The Deputy asked a generic question. Again, on behalf of the Minister for Justice, I thank the Deputy for raising this issue today. I again emphasise that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of the Garda vetting system. The Minister for Justice has no role in such matters and cannot direct An Garda Síochána in the operation of the vetting...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child and Family Agency (15 Dec 2022)

James Browne: The Deputy should ask a more specific question next time.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (15 Dec 2022)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. The Deputy has been working on it for some time. I am providing a response outlining to the House the major building project that will be undertaken at Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin, and also recent interactions between the school, its patron body and the Department of Education on the current condition of the existing school building....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (15 Dec 2022)

James Browne: I thank Deputy McAuliffe for raising this very important matter. I confirm that the Department of Education is aware of the current building conditions and that Department officials will assist and advise the school authorities in maintaining the current school premises in advance of the delivery of the major building project. The Department will shortly advise the school authorities of...

Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) (Amendment) (Pets) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (15 Dec 2022)

James Browne: I take this opportunity to express my sympathies to Private Seán Rooney's family. We are all shocked and saddened by the news that he lost his life in Lebanon. I extend my sympathies to his family, friends, community and comrades. Private Rooney's death is a reminder of the risks and sacrifices that our peacekeepers make every day when on duty. I wish a speedy recovery to his...

Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) (Amendment) (Pets) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (15 Dec 2022)

James Browne: I thank colleagues for their contributions. Pet theft is an incredibly cruel crime that causes huge trauma for both the pets themselves and, of course, their owners. I ask the Deputies to take into consideration the issues we have raised but we are not opposing the Bill at this stage.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (18 Jan 2023)

James Browne: 750. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 323 of 6 December 2022, the position regarding a person (details supplied) being eligible for school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1254/23]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Control of Firearms (18 Jan 2023)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1069 and 1087 together. As previously advised in response to Parliamentary Question 483 on 6 December 2022, An Garda Síochána have informed my Department that it is not possible to collate the number of semi-automatic centre fire rifles for each of the years since 2015 to date. To do so would necessitate a manual trawl of PULSE which would take an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Youth Services (18 Jan 2023)

James Browne: As the Deputy will be aware, Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) are community-based, multi-agency crime prevention initiatives which seek to divert young people who have become involved in crime or anti-social behaviour, and to support wider preventative work in the community and with families at risk. There are currently 106 YDPs in place throughout the State, supporting up to 4,000 young...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Jan 2023)

James Browne: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including all operational policing matters. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions. To be of assistance to the Deputy, I have contacted the Garda Authorities for the information requested and I...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2023)

James Browne: I thank the Senator for his amendment. Section 46 provides for a consideration of applications and conditions for making of recommendations and under it the commission shall consider applications made in accordance with the judicial selection statement and shall not recommend an applicant to judicial office unless it is satisfied that the applicant is an eligible person; possesses the...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2023)

James Browne: Having somebody apply on multiple occasions and having to be re-interviewed may be cumbersome but it is appropriate. It is fair in any new appointment where new applicants may also be applying for the same job that everybody be treated in a similar fashion. It is not unusual in any job interview process that some people are not called for interviews, for whatever reason. It will be up to...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2023)

James Browne: The answer to the last part is "No". As stated, the Government will not be in a position to appoint anybody who has not been recommended by the commission. Receiving all names will allow the Minister to assess in time the level of applications for a particular area, the range of persons applying, the professions of the applicants and whether it is likely that the diversity goals will be...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2023)

James Browne: It is important that the Minister can keep under review the type of applicants who are applying for different positions to see that the different goals are being met in terms of diversity and see the interest in and attractiveness of different positions. It is important for the Minister to have that information. The Government may only appoint someone who has been recommended.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2023)

James Browne: We believe this legislation is constitutional; otherwise we would not have tabled it. I will not repeat the speaking points about why we are gathering this additional information. Regarding eligibility, all Supreme Court justices will be eligible to apply for that vacancy. The independent commission is simply making recommendations and it will not go as far as to say anybody is unsuitable...